Active substance combinations that have nematicidal, insecticidal, and fungicidal properties and are based on trifluorobutenyl compounds

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are novel active substance combinations comprising specific heterocyclic trifluorobutenyls and previously known fungicidal agents. Said active substance combinations have a very good synergistic fungicidal, nematicidal, insecticidal, and/or acaricidal effect.

The present application is a Divisional of prior application Ser. No.10/555,106, filed Dec. 28, 2006, which is the U.S. National Phaseapplication of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/004165, filedApr. 20, 2004, such application claiming the benefit of Appln No. 103 19591.2 filed in the Germany, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to novel active compound combinationscomprising, firstly, known heterocyclic trifluorobutenyles and,secondly, known fungicidally active compounds, which combinations arehighly suitable for controlling animal pests, such as insects andnematodes, and for controlling fungi.

It is already known that certain heterocyclic trifluorobutenyls havenematicidal properties (WO 01/02378 A1). An action of these compoundsagainst insects or fungi has not been reported.

Furthermore, it is known that numerous azole derivatives, aromaticcarboxylic acid derivatives, morpholine compounds and other heterocyclescan be used for controlling fungi (cf. K. H. Buchel “Pflanzenschutz andSchadlingsbekampfung” [Crop protection and pest control], pages 87, 136,141 and 146 to 153, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1977; C. D. S.Thomlin (Editor): “The Pesticide Mannual”, Eleventh Edition, BritishCorp Protection Council, Farnham, Surrey, 1997). However, the activityof the compounds in question at low application rates and/or withrespect to their spectrum is not always satisfactory.

It has now been found that active compound combinations comprisingheterocyclic trifluorobutenyls of the formula (I)

in which X represents halogen and n represents 0, 1 or 2, and at leastone active compound from the following classes of fungicides, aliphatic,nitrogen-containing fungicides: butylamine, cymoxanil, dodicin, dodine,guazatine, iminoctadine;

amides: carpropamid, chloraniformethan, clozylacon, cyazofamid,cyflufenamid, diclocymet, ethaboxam, fenoxanil, flumetover, furametpyr,prochloraz, quinazamid, silthiofam, triforine, amino acids, such as, forexample, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M furalaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M,pefurazoate, benzamides, such as, for example, benzohydroxamic acid,tioxymid, trichiamide, tricyclamide, zarilamid, zoxamide, furamides,such as, for example, cyclafuramid, furmecyclox, phenylsulfamides, suchas, for example, dichlofluanid, tolylfluanid, valinamides, such as, forexample, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, anilides, such as, for example,benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, metalaxyl,metalaxyl-M, metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, pyracarbolid,thifluzamide, thiadinil, benzanilides, such as, for example, benodanil,flutolanil, mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam, furanilides,such as, for example, fenfuram, furalaxyl, furcarbanil, methfuroxam,sulfonanilides, such as, for example, flusulfamide;

antibiotic fungicides: aureofungin, blasticidin-S, capsimycin,cycloheximide, griseofulvin, irumamycin, kasugamycin, mildiomycin,natamycin, polyoxins, polyoxorim, streptomycin, validamycin, strobins,such as, for example, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin,kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin,pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin;

aromatic fungicides: biphenyl, chloroneb, chlorothalonil, cresol,dicloran, hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol, quintozene, sodiumpentachlorophenoxide, tecnazene;

benzimidazoles: benomyl, carbendazim, chlorfenazole, cypendazole,debacarb, fuberidazole, mecarbinzid, rabenzazole, thiabendazole;

benzothiazoles: bentaluron, chlobenthiazone, TCMTB;

diphenyl fungicides: bithionol, dichlorophen, diphenylamine;

carbamates: benthiavalicarb, furophanate, iprovalicarb, propamocarb,thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, benzimidazolylcarbamate, such as, forexample, benomyl, carbendazim, cypendazole, debacarb, mecarbinzid,carbanilates, such as, for example, diethofencarb;

conazoles: conazoles (imidazoles), such as, for example, climbazole,clotrimazole, imazalil, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, triflumizole,conazoles (triazoles), such as, for example, azaconazole, bromuconazole,cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole,diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole,fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis,hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil,penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole,tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole,uniconazole, uniconazole-P;

copper fungicides: Bordeaux mixture, Burgundy mixture, Cheshunt mixture,copper acetate, copper carbonate (basic), copper hydroxide, coppernaphthenate, copper oleate, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, coppersulfate (basic), copper zinc chromate, cufraneb, cuprobam, cuprousoxide, mancopper, oxine copper;

dicarboximides: famoxadone, fluoroimide, dichlorophenyldicarboximides,such as, for example, chlozolinate, dichlozoline, iprodione,isovaledione, myclozolin, procymidone, vinclozolin, phthalimides, suchas, for example, captafol, captan, ditalimfos, folpet, thiochlorfenphim;

dinitrophenols: binapacryl, dinobuton, dinocap, dinocap-4, dinocap-6,dinocton, dinopenton, dinosulfon, dinoterbon, DNOC;

dithiocarbamates: azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram,ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, ziram, cyclic dithiocarbamates,such as, for example, dazomet, etem, milneb, polymeric dithiocarbamates,such as, for example, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram,polycarbamate, propineb, zineb;

imidazoles: cyazofamid, fenamidone, fenapanil, glyodin, iprodione,isovaledione, pefurazoate, triazoxide, (see also: conazoles(imidazoles));

morpholines: aldimorph, benzamorf, carbamorph, dimethomorph, dodemorph,fenpropimorph, flumorph, tridemorph;

organophosphorus fungicides: ampropylfos, ditalimfos, edifenphos,fosetyl, hexylthiofos, iprobenfos, phosdiphen, pyrazophos,tolclofos-methyl, triamiphos;

organotin compounds: decafentin, fentin, tributyltin oxide;

oxathiines: carboxin, oxycarboxin, oxyfenthiin;

oxazoles: chlozolinate, dichlozoline, drazoxolon, famoxadone, hymexazol,metazoxolon, myclozolin, oxadixyl, vinclozolin;

pyridines: boscalid, buthiobate, dipyrithione, fluazinam, pyridinitril,pyrifenox, pyroxychlor, pyroxyfur;

pyrimidines: andoprim, bupirimate, cyprodinil, diflumetorim,dimethirimol, ethirimol, fenarimol, ferimzone, meferimzone, mepanipyrim,nuarimol, pyrimethanil, triarimol;

pyrroles: fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, fluoroimide, pyrrolnitrine;

quinolines: ethoxyquin, halacrinate, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate,quinacetol, quinoxyfen; quinones: benquinox, chloranil, dichlone,dithianon;

quinoxalines: chinomethionat, chlorquinox, thioquinox;

thiazoles: ethaboxam, etridiazole, metsulfovax, octhilinone,thiabendazole, thiadifluor, thifluzamide;

thiocarbamates: methasulfocarb, prothiocarb;

thiophenes: ethaboxam, silthiofam;

triazines: anilazine;

triazoles: bitertanol, fluotrimazole, triazbutil (see also conazoles(triazoles));

ureas: bentaluron, pencycuron, quinazamid;

non-classified fungicides: acibenzolar, acypetacs, allyl alcohol,benzalkonium chloride, benzamacril, bethoxazin, carvone, chloropicrin,cyprofuram, DBCP, dehydroacetic acid, diclomezine, diethylpyrocarbonate,fenaminosulf, fenitropan, fenpropidin, formaldehyde,hexachlorobutadiene, isoprothiolane, methylbromid, methylisothiocyanate, metrafenone, nicobifen, nitrostyrene,nitrothal-isopropyl, OCH, oxolinix acid, 2-phenylphenol, phthalide,piperalin, probenazole, proquinazid, pyroquilon, sodiumorthophenylphenoxide, spiroxamine, sultropen, thicyofen, tricyclazole,zinc naphthenate,(2S)—N-[2-[4-[[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-propynyl]oxy]-3-methoxyphenyl]ethyl]-3-methyl-2-[(methylsulfonyl)amino]-butanamide;1-(1-naphthalenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione;2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-pyridine;2-amino-4-methyl-N-phenyl-5-thiazolecarboxamide;2-chloro-N-(2,3-dihydro-1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-inden-4-yl)-3-pyridincarboxamide;3,4,5-trichloro-2,6-pyridinedicarbonitrile;cis-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-cycloheptanol; methyl1-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-yl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate;monopotassium carbonate;N-(6-methoxy-3-pyridinyl)-cyclopropanecarboxamide;N-butyl-8-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1-oxaspiro[4.5]decan-3-amine;

(“active compounds of group 2”)

have very good nematicidal, insecticidal and/or fungicidal properties.

Surprisingly, the nematicidal, fungicidal and/or insecticidal action ofthe active compound combination according to the invention isconsiderably higher than the sum of the actions of the individual activecompounds. A true unforeseeable synergistic effect is present, and notjust an addition of actions.

In addition to at least one active compound of the formula (I), theactive compound combinations according to the invention comprise atleast one active compound of group 2.

Preference is given to active compound combinations as described abovewhich, as active compound of group 1, comprise at least one compound ofthe formula (I) in which

X represents fluorine, chlorine or bromine and

n represents 0 or 2.

Particular preference is furthermore given to active compoundcombinations as described above which, as active compound of group 1,comprise at least one compound of the formula (I) in which

X represents fluorine or chlorine and

n represents 2.

The present invention provides in particular active compoundcombinations as described above which, in addition to at least oneactive compound from group 1 according to one of the above definitions,comprise at least one active compound of group 2 from one of thefollowing above-defined classes of fungicides: amides, strobins,conazoles, dicarboximides, organophosphorus fungicides, carbamates andurea derivatives.

Especially preferred are active compound combinations as described abovewhich comprise a compound of the formula (TA) according to theabove-defined active compounds of group 1

or a compound of the formula (IB) according to the above-defined activecompounds of group 1

or a compound of the formula (IC) according to the above-defined activecompounds of group 1

Preference is given to active compound combinations of in each case oneof the active compounds of the formula (IA), (IB) or (IC), and in eachcase one of the following active compounds from the class of the amides,strobins, conazoles, dicarboximides, organophosphorus fungicides,carbamates or urea derivatives:

tolylfluanid, carpropamid, chloraniformethan, clozylacon, cyazofamid,cyflufenamid, diclocymet, ethaboxam, fenoxanil, flumetover, furametpyr,prochloraz, quinazamid, silthiofam, triforine, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M,furalaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, pefurazoate, benzohydroxamic acid,tioxymid, trichlamide, tricyclamide, zarilamid, zoxamide, cyclafuramid,furmecyclox, dichlofluanid, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, benalaxyl,benalaxyl-M, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M,metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, pyracarbolid, thifluzamide,tiadinil, benzanilides, such as, for example, benodanil, flutolanil,mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam; furanilides, such as,for example, fenfuram, furalaxyl, furcarbanil, methfuroxam, flusulfamide(“amides”);

trifloxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin,kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin,pyraclostrobin, (“strobins”);

tebuconazole, prothioconazole, prochloraz, climbazole, clotrimazole,imazalil, oxpoconazole, triflumizole, azaconazole, bromuconazole,cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole,diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole,fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis,hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil,penconazole, propiconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tetraconazole,triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, uniconazole-P(“conazoles”);

iprodione, famoxadone, fluoroimide, chlozolinate, dichlozoline,isovaledione, myclozolin, procymidone, vinclozolin, captafol, captan,ditalimfos, folpet, thiochlorfenphim (“dicarboximides”);

fosetyl, ampropylfos, ditalimfos, edifenphos, hexylthiofos, iprobenfos,phosdiphen, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl, triamiphos (“organophosphorusfungicides”);

benthiavalicarb, furophanate, iprovalicarb, propamocarb, thiophanate,thiophanate-methyl, benomyl, carbendazim, cypendazole, debacarb,mecarbinzid, diethofencarb (“carbamates”);

pencycuron, bentaluron, quinazamid (“ureas”),

or one of the active compounds hymexazole (an oxazole) or fludioxonil (apyrrole).

Especially preferred are active compound combinations comprising anactive compound of the formula (IC) (active compounds of group 1) andone of the following active compounds from the class of the amides,strobins, conazoles, dicarboximides, organophosphorus fungicides or ureaderivatives:

tolylfluanid, carpropamid, chloraniformethan, clozylacon, cyazofamid,cyflufenamid, diclocymet, ethaboxam, fenoxanil, flumetover, furametpyr,prochloraz, quinazamid, silthiofam, triforine, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M,furalaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, pefurazoate, benzohydroxamic acid,tioxymid, trichlamide, tricyclamide, zarilamid, zoxamide, cyclafuramid,furmecyclox, dichlofluanid, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, benalaxyl,benalaxyl-M, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M,metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, pyracarbolid, thifluzamide,tiadinil, benzanilides, such as, for example, benodanil, flutolanil,mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam, furanilides, such as,for example, fenfuram, furalaxyl, furcarbanil, methfuroxam, flusulfamide(“amides”);

trifloxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin,kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin,pyraclostrobin (“strobins”);

tebuconazole, prochloraz, climbazole, clotrimazole imazalil,oxpoconazole, triflumizole, azaconazole, bromuconazole, cyproconazole,diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M,epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole,flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole,ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole,prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon,triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, uniconazole-P (“conazoles”);

iprodione, famoxadone, fluoroimide, chlozolinate, dichlozoline,isovaledione, myclozolin, procymidone, vinclozolin, captafol, captan,ditalimfos, folpet, thiochlorfenphim (“dicarboximides”);

fosetyl, ampropylfos, ditalimfos, edifenphos, hexylthiofos, iprobenfos,phosdiphen, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl, triamiphos (“organophosphorusfungicides”);

pencycuron, bentaluron, quinazamid (“ureas”),

or one of the active compounds hymexazole or fludioxonil.

From among the abovementioned preferred class of the conazoles, in turn,the triazoles are of particular interest. From among the abovementionedpreferred class of the dicarboximides, in turn, thedichlorophenyldicarboximides are of particular interest.

Particularly preferred combinations according to the invention are shownin the table below.

TABLE 1 Active compound of group 1 Active compound of group 2 (IA)fluoxastrobin

(IB) fluoxastrobin (IC) fluoxastrobin (IA) fosetyl-Al

(IB) fosetyl-Al (IC) fosetyl-Al (IA) fludioxonil

(IB) fludioxonil (IC) fludioxonil (IA) iprodione

(IB) iprodione (IC) iprodione (IA) pencycuron

(IB) pencycuron (IC) pencycuron (IA) prochloraz

(IB) prochloraz (IC) prochloraz (IA) prothioconazole

(IB) prothioconazole (IC) prothioconazole (IA) tebuconazole

(IB) tebuconazole (IC) tebuconazole (IA) tolylfluanid

(IB) tolylfluanid (IC) tolylfluanid (IA) trifloxystrobin

(IB) trifloxystrobin (IC) trifloxystrobin

In addition, the active compound combinations may also comprise otherfungicidally, acaricidally or insecticidally active components which maybe admixed.

If the active compounds are present in the active compound combinationsaccording to the invention in certain weight ratios, the synergisticeffect is particularly pronounced. However, the weight ratios of theactive compounds in the active compound combinations may be variedwithin a relatively wide range. In general, the combinations accordingto the invention comprise active compounds of the formula (I) and aco-component from group 2 in the preferred and particularly preferredmixing ratios given in an exemplary manner in the table below:

-   -   the mixing ratios are based on weight ratios. The ratio is to be        understood as meaning active compound of the formula (I):        co-component

TABLE 2 Particularly Preferred preferred Co-component mixing ratiomixing ratio fluquinconazol 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 tebuconazol1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 bitertanol 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1triadimenol 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 triadimefon 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1to 1:1 difenoconazol 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 flusilazol 1000:1 to 1:5500:1 to 1:1 prochloraz 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 penconazol 1000:1 to1:5 500:1 to 1:1 2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-1- 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1(2-chlorophenyl)-3-(5-mercapto- 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-olkresoximmethyl 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 azoxystrobin 1000:1 to 1:5500:1 to 1:1 trifloxystrobin 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 picoxystrobin1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 3-{1-[4-<2-chlorophenoxy>- 1000:1 to 1:5500:1 to 1:1 5-fluoropyrimid-6-yloxy)phenyl]-1-(methoximino)methyl}-5,6- dihydro-1,4,2-dioxazine maneb 100:1 to 1:1050:1 to 1:1 propineb 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 mancozeb 100:1 to 1:1050:1 to 1:1 captan 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 folpet (Phaltan) 100:1 to1:10 50:1 to 1:1 dichlofluanid 200:1 to 1:10 100:1 to 1:2 tolylfluanid200:1 to 1:10 100:1 to 1:2 famoxadon 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 fenamidon100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 carpropamid 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1iprovalicarb 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 procymidon 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to1:1 vinclozolin 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 iprodion 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to1:1 cyprodinil 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 cyamidazosulfamid 100:1 to 1:1050:1 to 1:1 1-(3,5-dimethylisoxazole-4- 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1sulfonyl)-2- chloro-6,6-difluoro- [1,3]-dioxolo- [4,5f]benzimidazolepyrimethanil 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 mepanipyrim 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to1:1 spiroxamin 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 chlorothalonil 1000:1 to 1:5500:1 to 1:1 iminoctadien-triacetate 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1fludioxonil 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 acibenzolar-s-methyl (Bion)1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 dimetomorph 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1cymoxanil 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 fosetyl-al 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to1:1 pencycuron 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 fenhexamid 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1to 1:1 zoxamid 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 carbendazim 1000:1 to 1:5500:1 to 1:1 rabcide 1000:1 to 1:5 500:1 to 1:1 coratop 200:1 to 1:10100:1 to 1:2 chinomethionat 200:1 to 1:10 100:1 to 1:2 fluazinam 100:1to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 metalaxyl-M 100:1 to 1:10 50:1 to 1:1 sulfur 100:1to 1:100 10:1 to 1:10 copper 100:1 to 1:100 10:1 to 1:10

Fungicides are employed in crop protection for controllingPlasmodiophoromycetes, Oomycetes, Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes,Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes.

Some pathogens causing fungal and bacterial diseases which come underthe generic names listed above are mentioned as examples, but not by wayof limitation:

Xanthomonas species, such as, for example, Xanthomonas campestris pv.oryzae; Pseudomonas species, such as, for example, Pseudomonas syringaepv. lachrymans; Erwinia species, such as, for example, Erwiniaamylovora; Pythium species, such as, for example, Pythium ultimum;Phytophthora species, such as, for example, Phytophthora infestans;Pseudoperonospora species, such as, for example, Pseudoperonosporahumuli or Pseudoperonospora cubensis; Plasmopara species, such as, forexample, Plasmopara viticola; Bremia species, such as, for example,Bremia lactucae; Peronospora species, such as, for example, Peronosporapisi or P. brassicae; Erysiphe species, such as, for example, Erysiphegraminis; Sphaerotheca species, such as, for example, Sphaerothecafuliginea; Podosphaera species, such as, for example, Podosphaeraleucotricha; Venturia species, such as, for example, Venturiainaequalis; Pyrenophora species, such as, for example, Pyrenophora Peresor P. graminea (conidia form: Drechslera, syn: Helminthosporium);Cochliobolus species, such as, for example, Cochliobolus sativus(conidia form: Drechslera, syn: Helminthosporium); Uromyces species,such as, for example, Uromyces appendiculatus; Puccinia species, suchas, for example, Puccinia recondita; Sclerotinia species, such as, forexample, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Tilletia species, such as, forexample, Tilletia caries; Ustilago species, such as, for example,Ustilago nuda or Ustilago avenae; Pellicularia species, such as, forexample, Pellicularia sasakii; Pyricularia species, such as, forexample, Pyricularia oryzae; Fusarium species, such as, for example,Fusarium culmorum; Botrytis species, such as, for example, Botrytiscinerea; Septoria species, such as, for example, Septoria nodorum;Leptosphaeria species, such as, for example, Leptosphaeria nodorum;Cercospora species, such as, for example, Cercospora canescens;Alternaria species, such as, for example, Alternaria brassicae; andPseudocercosporella species, such as, for example, Pseudocercosporellaherpotrichoides.

The fact that the active compound combinations are well tolerated byplants at the concentrations required for controlling plant diseasespermits the treatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagationstock and seeds, and of the soil.

The active compound combinations according to the invention are alsosuitable for increasing the yield of crops. Moreover, they have reducedtoxicity and are tolerated well by plants.

In the protection of materials, the active compound combinationsaccording to the invention can be employed for protecting industrialmaterials against infection with, and destruction by, undesiredmicroorganisms.

Industrial materials in the present context are understood as meaningnon-living materials which have been prepared for use in industry. Forexample, industrial materials which are intended to be protected byactive compound combinations according to the invention from microbialchange or destruction can be adhesives, sizes, paper and board,textiles, leather, wood, paints and plastic articles, cooling lubricantsand other materials which can be infected with, or destroyed by,microorganisms. Parts of production plants, for example cooling-watercircuits, which may be impaired by the proliferation of microorganismsmay also be mentioned within the scope of the materials to be protected.Industrial materials which may be mentioned within the scope of thepresent invention are preferably adhesives, sizes, paper and board,leather, wood, paints, cooling lubricants and heat-transfer liquids,particularly preferably wood.

Microorganisms capable of degrading or changing the industrial materialswhich may be mentioned are, for example, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algaeand slime organisms. The active compound combinations according to theinvention preferably act against fungi, in particular molds,wood-discoloring and wood-destroying fungi (Basidiomycetes), and againstslime organisms and algae.

Microorganisms of the following genera may be mentioned as examples:

Alternaria, such as Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus, such as Aspergillusniger, Chaetomium, such as Chaetomium globosum, Coniophora, such asConiophora puetana, Lentinus, such as Lentinus tigrinus, Penicillium,such as Penicillium glaucum, Polyporus, such as Polyporus versicolor,Aureobasidium, such as Aureobasidium pullulans, Sclerophoma, such asSclerophoma pityophila, Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma viride,Escherichia, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, such as Pseudomonasaeruginosa, and Staphylococcus, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Depending on their particular physical and/or chemical properties, theactive compound combinations can be converted to the customaryformulations, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams,pastes, granules, aerosols and microencapsulations in polymericsubstances and in coating compositions for seeds, and ULV cool and warmfogging formulations.

These formulations are produced in a known manner, for example by mixingthe active compounds with extenders, that is, liquid solvents, liquefiedgases under pressure, and/or solid carriers, optionally with the use ofsurfactants, that is emulsifiers and/or dispersants, and/or foamformers. If the extender used is water, it is also possible to employ,for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Suitable liquidsolvents are essentially: aromatics such as xylene, toluene oralkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics or chlorinated aliphatichydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylenechloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, forexample petroleum fractions, alcohols such as butanol or glycol andtheir ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone,methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such asdimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide, or else water. Liquefiedgaseous extenders or carriers are to be understood as meaning liquidswhich are gaseous at standard temperature and under atmosphericpressure, for example aerosol propellants such as halogenatedhydrocarbons, or else butane, propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.Suitable solid carriers are: for example ground natural minerals such askaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite ordiatomaceous earth, and ground synthetic minerals such as highlydisperse silica, alumina and silicates. Suitable solid carriers forgranules are: for example crushed and fractionated natural rocks such ascalcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite and dolomite, or else syntheticgranules of inorganic and organic meals, and granules of organicmaterial such as sawdust, coconut shells, corn cobs and tobacco stalks.Suitable emulsifiers and/or foam formers are: for example nonionic andanionic emulsifiers, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters,polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, for example alkylaryl polyglycolethers, alkylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, arylsulfonates, or else proteinhydrolysates. Suitable dispersants are: for example lignosulfite wasteliquors and methylcellulose.

Tackifiers such as carboxymethylcellulose and natural and syntheticpolymers in the form of powders, granules or latices, such as gumarabic, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, or else naturalphospholipids such as cephalins and lecithins and syntheticphospholipids can be used in the formulations. Other additives can bemineral and vegetable oils.

It is possible to use colorants such as inorganic pigments, for exampleiron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian Blue, and organic dyestuffs suchas alizarin dyestuffs, azo dyestuffs and metal phthalocyanine dyestuffs,and trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper,cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

The formulations generally comprise between 0.1 and 95 per cent byweight of active compound, preferably between 0.5 and 90%.

The active compound combinations can be used as such, in the form oftheir formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such asready-to-use solutions, suspensions, wettable powders, pastes, solublepowders, dusts and granules. Application is carried out in a customarymanner, for example by watering, spraying, atomizing, broadcasting,dusting, foaming, spreading, etc. It is furthermore possible to applythe active compounds by the ultra-low volume method, or to inject theactive compound preparation or the active compound itself into the soil.It is also possible to treat the seeds of the plants.

When using the active compound combinations according to the inventionas fungicides, the application rates can be varied within a relativelywide range, depending on the kind of application. For the treatment ofparts of plants, the active compound application rates are generallybetween 0.1 and 10 000 g/ha, preferably between 10 and 1000 g/ha. Forseed dressing, the active compound application rates are generallybetween 0.001 and 50 g per kilogram of seed, preferably between 0.01 and10 g per kilogram of seed. For the treatment of the soil, the activecompound application rates are generally between 0.1 and 10 000 g/ha,preferably between 1 and 5000 g/ha.

The compositions used for protecting industrial materials comprise theactive compounds generally in an amount of from 1 to 95% by weight,preferably from 10 to 75% by weight.

The use concentrations of the active compound combinations according tothe invention depend on the nature and occurrence of the microorganismsto be controlled and on the composition of the material to be protected.The optimum amount employed can be determined by a series of tests. Ingeneral, the use concentrations are in the range from 0.001 to 5% byweight, preferably from 0.05 to 1.0% by weight, based on the material tobe protected.

According to the invention, it is possible to treat all plants and partsof plants. Plants are to be understood here as meaning all plants andplant populations such as desired and undesired wild plants or cropplants (including naturally occurring crop plants). Crop plants can beplants which can be obtained by conventional breeding and optimizationmethods or by biotechnological and genetic engineering methods orcombinations of these methods, including the transgenic plants andincluding the plant cultivars which can or cannot be protected by plantbreeder's certificates. Parts of plants are to be understood as meaningall above-ground and below-ground parts and organs of plants, such asshoot, leaf, flower and root, examples which may be mentioned beingleaves, needles, stems, trunks, flowers, fruit-bodies, fruits and seedsand also roots, tubers and rhizomes. Parts of plants also includeharvested plants and vegetative and generative propagation material, forexample seedlings, tubers, rhizomes, cuttings and seeds.

The treatment according to the invention of the plants and parts ofplants with the active compounds is carried out directly or by action ontheir environment, habitat or storage area according to customarytreatment methods, for example by dipping, spraying, evaporating,atomizing, broadcasting, brushing-on and, in the case of propagationmaterial, in particular in the case of seeds, furthermore by one- ormulti-layer coating.

A synergistic effect in fungicides, nematicides, insecticides andacaricides is always present when the fungicidal, nematicidal,insecticidal and/or acaricidal action of the active compoundcombinations exceeds the total of the actions of the active compoundswhen applied individually.

The expected action for a given combination of two active compounds canbe calculated as follows (cf. Colby, S. R., “Calculating Synergistic andAntagonistic Responses of Herbicide Combinations”, Weeds 15 (1967),20-22):

If

-   X is the efficacy or kill rate, expressed as a percentage of the    untreated control, when employing active compound A in a    concentration of m ppm,-   Y is the efficacy or kill rate, expressed as a percentage of the    untreated control, when employing active compound B in a    concentration of m ppm and-   E is the efficacy or kill rate, expressed as a percentage of the    untreated control, when employing active compounds A and B in a    concentration of m and n ppm,

then

$E = {X + Y - {\frac{X \cdot Y}{100}.}}$

If the actual fungicidal or nematicidal, insecticidal and/or acaricidalaction exceeds the calculated value, the action of the combination issuperadditive, i.e. a synergistic effect is present. In this case, theactually observed efficacy or kill rate must exceed the value calculatedusing the above formula for the expected efficacy (E).

EXAMPLES Example A Meloidogyne Test Nematicidal Action

Solvent: 7 parts by weight of dimethylformamide

Emulsifier: 2 parts by weight of alkylaryl polyglycol ether

To produce a suitable preparation of active compound, 1 part by weightof active compound is mixed with the stated amounts of solvent andemulsifier, and the concentrate is diluted with water to the desiredconcentration.

Vessels are filled with sand, solution of active compound, Meloidogyneincognita egg/larvae suspension and lettuce seeds. The lettuce seedsgerminate and plants develop. On the roots, galls are formed.

After the desired period of time, the nematicidal action is determinedin % by the formation of galls. 100% means that no galls have beenfound; 0% means that the number of galls on the treated plantscorresponds to that of the untreated control. The determined kill ratesare inserted into Colby's formula.

In this test, the following active compound combinations according tothe present application showed a synergistically enhanced activitycompared to the active compounds applied on their own (found*=activityfound in the test; calc. **=activity calculated according to Colby):

TABLE 3 (IC) + prothioconazole Active compound Kill rate [%] Activecompound concentration [ppm] after 14 days (IC) 0.8 50 prothioconazole20 50 (IC) + prothioconazole 0.8 + 20 found*: 80 (1:25) calc.**: 75

TABLE 4 (IC) + fludioxonil Active compound Kill rate [%] Active compoundconcentration [ppm] after 14 days (IC) 0.8 50 fludioxonil 20  0 (IC) +fludioxonil 0.8 + 20 found*: 90 (1:25) calc.**: 50

TABLE 5 (IC) + trifloxystrobin Active compound Kill rate [%] Activecompound concentration [ppm] after 14 days (IC) 0.8 50 trifloxystrobin20  0 (IC) + trifloxystrobin 0.8 + 20 found*: 60 (1:25) calc.**: 50

Example B Plutella Test, Sensitive Strain Insecticidal Action

Solvent: 7 parts by weight of dimethylformamide

Emulsifier: 2 parts by weight of alkylaryl polyglycol ether

To produce a suitable preparation of active compound, 1 part by weightof active compound is mixed with the stated amounts of solvent andemulsifier, and the concentrate is diluted with emulsifier-containingwater to the desired concentration.

Cabbage leaves (Brassica oleracea) are treated by being dipped into thepreparation of active compound of the desired concentration and arepopulated with caterpillars of the diamondback moth (Plutellaxylostella, sensitive strain) while the leaves are still moist. Afterthe desired period of time, the kill in % is determined. 100% means thatall caterpillars have been killed; 0% means that none of thecaterpillars have been killed. The determined kill rates are insertedinto Colby's formula.

In this test, the following active compound combination in accordancewith the present application showed a synergistically enhanced activitycompared to the active compounds applied on their own (found*=activityfound in the test; calc.**=activity calculated according to Colby):

TABLE 6 (IC) + trifloxystrobin Active compound Kill rate [%] Activecompound concentration [ppm] after 3 days (IC) 100  0 trifloxystrobin100 15 (IC) + trifloxystrobin 100 + 100 found*: 55 (1:1) calc.**: 15

Example C Mycelium Growth Test

Nutrient medium: 39 parts by weight of potato dextrose agar

-   -   5 parts by weight of agar agar

These are dissolved in 1000 ml of distilled water and autoclaved at 121°C. for 30 minutes.

Solvent: 49 parts by weight of acetone

Emulsifier: 1 part by weight of alkylaryl polyglycol ether

To produce a suitable preparation of active compound, 1 part by weightof active compound or active compound combination is mixed with thestated amounts of solvent and emulsifier, and the concentrate is dilutedwith water to the required stock solution concentration. To establishthe test concentration, in each case 1 part by volume of the activecompound stock solution is thoroughly mixed with 9 parts by volume ofliquid nutrient medium and poured into Petri dishes. Once the nutrientmedium has cooled and solidified, the plates are inoculated with themicroorganisms listed in the table below and incubated at about 20° C.

Depending on the growth rate of the microorganisms, evaluation iscarried out after 2 to 8 days. 0% means an efficacy which corresponds tothat of the control, whereas an efficacy of 100% means that no myceliumgrowth is observed.

The tables below clearly show that the found activity of the activecompound combination according to the invention is higher than thecalculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is present.

TABLE 7 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +pencycuron Active compound concentration in the Active compound nutrientmedium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 18 pencycuron 200  0 (IC) +pencycuron 100 + 200 actual efficacy: 58 (1:2) expected value calculatedaccording to Colby: 18

TABLE 8 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +fosetyl-Al Active compound concentration in the Active compound nutrientmedium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC)  50  7 fosetyl-Al 100 34 (IC) +fosetyl-Al 50 + 100 actual efficacy: 58 (1:2) expected value calculatedaccording to Colby: 39

TABLE 9 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +tolylfluanid Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 23 tolylfluanid  10 65(IC) + tolylfluanid 100 + 10 actual efficacy: 92 (1:2) expected valuecalculated according to Colby: 73

TABLE 10 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +trifloxystrobin Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 23 trifloxystrobin  10 29(IC) + trifloxystrobin 100 + 10 actual efficacy: 65 (10:1) expectedvalue calculated according to Colby: 45

TABLE 11 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +fluoxastrobin Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 50  7 fluoxastrobin  5 28 (IC) +fluoxastrobin 50 + 5 actual efficacy: 58 (10:1) expected valuecalculated according to Colby: 33

TABLE 12 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +tebuconazole Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 23 tebuconazole 100 12(IC) + tebuconazole 100 + 100 actual efficacy: 88 (1:1) expected valuecalculated according to Colby: 32

TABLE 13 mycelium growth test with Phytophthora cactorum (IC) +prochloraz Active compound concentration in the Active compound nutrientmedium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 18 prochloraz  50 30 (IC) +prochloraz 100 + 50 actual efficacy: 85 (2:1) expected value calculatedaccording to Colby: 43

TABLE 14 mycelium growth test with Fusarium nivale (IC) + fosetyl-AlActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC)  1 15 fosetyl-Al 10 45 (IC) + fosetyl-Al 1 + 10actual efficacy: 73 (1:10) expected value calculated according to Colby:53

TABLE 15 mycelium growth test with Rhizoctonia solani (IC) + fosetyl-AlActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC)  1  0 fosetyl-Al 10 12 (IC) + fosetyl-Al 1 + 10actual efficacy: 77 (1:10) expected value calculated according to Colby:12

TABLE 16 mycelium growth test with Rhizoctonia solani (IC) +trifloxystrobin Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 10 49 trifloxystrobin  1 39(IC) + trifloxystrobin 10 + 1 actual efficacy: 86 (10:1) expected valuecalculated according to Colby: 69

TABLE 17 mycelium growth test with Rhizoctonia solani (IC) +fluoxastrobin Active compound concentration in the Active compoundnutrient medium [ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 10 49 fluoxastrobin  1 39 (IC) +fluoxastrobin 10 + 1 actual efficacy: 80 (10:1) expected valuecalculated according to Colby: 69

TABLE 18 mycelium growth test with Phythium ultimum (IC) + iprodioneActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 11 iprodione 200  9 (IC) + iprodione) 100 +200 actual efficacy: 84 (1:2 expected value calculated according toColby: 19

TABLE 19 mycelium growth test with Phythium ultimum (IC) + tolylfluanidActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 11 tolylfluanid  10 82 (IC) + tolylfluanid100 + 10 actual efficacy: 99 (10:1) expected value calculated accordingto Colby: 84

TABLE 20 mycelium growth test with Phythium ultimum (IC) + fluoxastrobinActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 31 fluoxastrobin  10 74 (IC) + fluoxastrobin100 + 10 actual efficacy: 93 (1:2) expected value calculated accordingto Colby: 82

TABLE 21 mycelium growth test with Phythium ultimum (IC) + tebuconazoleActive compound concentration in the Active compound nutrient medium[ppm] Efficacy [%] (IC) 100 11 tebuconazole 100 72 (IC) + tebuconazole100 + 100 actual efficacy: 86 (1:1) expected value calculated accordingto Colby: 75

1. A synergistic composition, characterized in that it comprises an active compound combination comprising (a) one or more active compounds of the formula (I)

in which X represents halogen and n represents 0, 1 or 2, (“active compounds of group 1”) and (b) one or more active compounds from one or various of the following groups (b1) to (b7): (b1) tolylfluanid, carpropamid, chloraniformethan, clozylacon, cyazofamid, cyflufenamid, diclocymet, ethaboxam, fenoxanil, flumetover, furametpyr, prochloraz, quinazamid, silthiofam, triforine, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, furalaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, pefurazoate, benzohydroxamic acid, tioxymid, trichlamide, tricyclamide, zarilamid, zoxamide, cyclafuramid, furmecyclox, dichlofluanid, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, pyracarbolid, thifluzamide, tiadinil, benzanilides, such as, for example, benodanil, flutolanil, mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam, furanilides, such as, for example, fenfuram, furalaxyl, furcarbanil, methfuroxam, flusulfamide (“amides”); (b2) trifloxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin (“strobins”); (b3) tebuconazole, prothioconazole, prochloraz, climbazole, clotrimazole imazalil, oxpoconazole, triflumizole, azaconazole, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, uniconazole-P (“conazoles”). (b4) iprodione, famoxadone, fluoroimide, chlozolinate, dichlozoline, isovaledione, myclozolin, procymidone, vinclozolin, captafol, captan, ditalimfos, folpet, thiochlorfenphim (“dicarboximides”); (b5) fosetyl, ampropylfos, ditalimfos, edifenphos, hexylthiofos, iprobenfos, phosdiphen, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl, triamiphos (“organophosphorus fungicides”); (b6) benthiavalicarb, furophanate, iprovalicarb, propamocarb, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, benomyl, carbendazim, cypendazole, debacarb, mecarbinzid, diethofencarb (“carbamates”); (b7) pencycuron, bentaluron, quinazamid (“ureas”); or one of the active compounds fludioxonil or hymexazol (“active compounds of group 2”).
 2. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula (I) in which X represents fluorine, chlorine or bromine and n represents 0 or
 2. 3. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula (I) in which X represents fluorine or chlorine and n represents
 2. 4. The synergistic composition as claimed in 1, characterized in that it comprises, as active compounds of the group 1, one of the following compounds of the formulae (IA), (IB) and (IC)


5. The synergistic composition of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, as active compounds of group 1, the compounds of the formula (IC).
 6. A method for controlling fungi, nematodes, insects or acarids, characterized in that mixtures as claimed in claim 1 are allowed to act on nematodes and/or insects and/or fungi and/or their habitats.
 7. A process for preparing fungicidal, nematicidal, insecticidal and/or fungicidal compositions, characterized in that compositions as claimed in claim 1 are mixed with extenders and/or surfactants. 